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Once someone has made up their mind they want to look into purchasing a treadmill for their home it can get pretty confusing from there.
Treadmills are on the market everywhere form a few hundred dollars in department stores to $5,000 or more. Everyone wants to save a buck here or there, but what is the right treadmill and right cost for you?
Here are four of the most important tips I can offer a first-time treadmill shopper, or even a repeat customer who doesn’t know the inside scoop:
1. Take it for a test run – One of the biggest mistakes people make in buying a treadmill is not taking it for a proper test “run.”
When you go into a fitness store, bring a pair of running shoes and ask to try out the treadmills like you’ll use them at home. If you plan to run on it, then run on the ones in the store you’re interested in.
Many of us have used a treadmill in a hotel or resort that doesn’t work right, is broken, or unstable and doesn’t seem to support you very well. You don’t want to end up with a flimsy treadmill that winds up as a storage rack for clothes in your junk room.
Make sure you really like the one you buy. Most treadmills look similar and it will be hard to tell them apart by simply walking on them.
2. Be wary of Internet reviews – When reading treadmill reviews online take them with a grain of salt. Many of the online reviews are posted by people working for the specific companies.
Unless you can pick up the review off a coffee table – such as a magazine or newspaper article – I’d question the source.
3. Don’t under-buy your treadmill – Did you know that not all treadmills are made for the same amount of use, or even size of runners?
Did you know some treadmills aren’t really designed to be used by someone who weighs 200 or more pounds running on them on a regular basis?
Make sure you talk to a qualified sales associate, or thoroughly research online in order to get the treadmill that will fit your needs.
If you will, mainly be walking on the treadmill, then you won’t need quite as sturdy a unit.
4. Check the warranty!!! – One of the most important things to consider is the warranty. There can be a huge difference in warranties, so even though one treadmill may be priced considerably cheaper it could cost you much more in the long run.
If you are going to invest in a treadmill, make sure if something goes wrong with it down the road you are covered.
Some companies undersell the competition, knowing that 5-7 years or so down the line people will be coming back to them to buy replacement parts and/or service. That can often cost another $500-700 and there goes that initial “great deal” out the window.
On the other hand, Landice for example offers a lifetime warranty.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com